Aug 5, 2011

Katy Perry Breathes Life to Smurfette in “The Smurfs”

A global music superstar who has sold over 8 million albums and almost 60 million songs and videos in the past three years, Katy Perry crosses over the big screen to provide the voice of Smurfette in Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation’s hybrid live-action and animated family comedy, “The Smurfs.”

When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the Smurfs out of their village, through a magical portal, and into our world, they land in the middle of New York’s Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down.

There’s something special about Smurfette. Whether it’s her beauty, sweet voice, charming personality, or just the fact that she is the ONLY girl among 100 boys, she just makes the other Smurfs go absolutely gaga. Originally created by Gargamel to trap the other Smurfs, Papa Smurf’s magic saved her and transformed her into a real Smurf. With a smart, savvy attitude, she’ll prove what a pint-sized punch she has when she comes face to face with her creator.

As it happens, the filmmakers set their heart on Katy Perry for the role even before she spoke a single line of dialogue. “They had done a blind test where they took certain voices from previous interviews and matched them with the character,” Katy explains. “They liked my voice without even knowing who it was, and when they found out it was me, they thought that would work out. My personality was just a plus!”

Katy found an affinity with the character she plays. “They asked me to add my nuance to it – so I was able to be sassy and cute, a little mischievous and funny,” she says. “It’s really interesting, because I got to be a part of creating her character. It’s really fun – it’s basically my voice with some rocks thrown in it, like I had too many cups of coffee.”

Katy says that making the transition from world-famous recording artist to voiceover actress was an organic next step. “I use my voice every single day,” she explains, “and I feel very cartoony at times, just in the way I present myself. So It was a natural progression – something natural for me to do.”

Katy Perry's 2008 multi-platinum debut album “One Of The Boys” generated four massive hit singles – “I Kissed A Girl,” “Hot N Cold,” “Thinking of You,” and “Waking Up In Vegas” – while her 2010 follow-up “Teenage Dream” has already generated four #1 hit singles – “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” and “E.T.” – a feat so rare that it’s only the ninth album in the 52-year history of the Billboard charts to achieve it. “Teenage Dream” also became the first album to have a single in the Top 10 for an entire year!

During the same period, Katy became one of the hottest concert attractions, with a year-long International Tour of sold-out arenas, including over 60 cities in North America during summer and fall of 2011.

Katy Perry was born on the internet, and now lives on buses and airplanes.

Opening across the Philippines on August 10, “The Smurfs” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.- Sony Pictures PR